Image by Sophie & Lili via Instagram.
I was born in Seoul, South Korea.
I was adopted at seven months old by Caucasian parents.
I married a Caucasian man.
I haven’t always been cognizant of how lucky I am to be an American. When you’re young, you take things for granted or at least I did. And quite honestly, I never felt like an outsider in my family. For me, there was no distinction between biological or adoptive parents. They raised me & loved me & gave me unconditional support & that is all that mattered. Not the color of my skin. Not the color of their skin. While that may seem a little naive or simplistic, it is how I’ve lived.
Unfortunately, there are people out there who are against the very idea of a white couple adopting a Korean baby. Or of a Korean woman & a Caucasian man being in a relationship or being married. Which is quite heartbreaking.
Honestly, I wasn’t sure if I would write about the hate & violence in Charlottesville. I posted to IG a week ago because it felt right then. Right for me to say something no matter how small of a space I hold in the social media stratosphere. But, I struggled with how to express my shock & anger & if it felt right (again, I’m referring to my personal choice) to say something using my business as a platform.
And then I realized that if I didn’t say something, especially because I am an Asian woman, then my silence speaks volumes.
And that by not speaking out against racism, white supremacy, hate groups or Nazism, I am basically turning away from everything that I hold sacred.
And by founding a business to honor those we love with what matters most – loyalty, support and unconditional love – I would be a hypocrite & that I have a responsibility to use my voice to fight for what I believe in.
I hope that no matter what political affiliation you hold that you believe in decency, empathy, kindness, compassion, love, & EQUALITY for every single person, no matter ethnicity, race, gender, or sexual orientation.
If you’re not sure what you can do here are some resources. Let’s each do what we can in our own ways:
10 Ways to Fight Hate from the SPLC
Conversation Suggestions from Wear Out The Silence
Eight Ways to Help After Charlottesville from Cup of Jo
Free resources for educators & other practitioners from Teaching Tolerance
Donate to Life After Hate
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